The City of Akron, in partnership with the Akron Parks Collaborative, is injecting a fresh wave of capital into local green spaces as they announce the 2025 winners of the Akron Parks Challenge—positions claimed by Waters Park and Karona Park, each earmarked to receive $150,000 in improvements. According to a recent press release, this endeavor is set to empower residents by involving them in reshaping their neighborhood parks from the ground up, fostering a community-driven design and maintenance of these vital public areas.
Akron’s Mayor Shammas Malik expressed that "The Akron Parks Challenge process puts community engagement at the beginning of the process, so that neighborhood residents themselves decide how to use their own park and also provide input on how they want it to look and feel," accordng to the City of Akron, highlighting a citywide initiative to bolster neighborhood health and cohesion as part of its Living Together goals. Waters Park, located in the diverse and multi-cultural enclave of North Hill has drawn together a coalition spanning community organizations, local businesses, and citizens—each contributing their own visions for an upgraded space to play, gather, and bond in a historic setting that traces back as Akron’s first playground.
Revealing in the victory, Executive Director of North Hill CDC, Justin Chenault, told the City of Akron, “Winning the Akron Parks Challenge is a major step toward transforming Waters Park—Akron’s first playground—into a vibrant, inclusive space that reflects the culture and diversity of North Hill. This investment helps us preserve the legacy of Frank Waters while creating new opportunities for recreation, connection, and celebration for residents of all ages.” In the same vein residents of Parkway Estates advocated fervently for Karona Park, driven to refresh their well-loved but aged play area and tennis court; their community champion Carolyn George remarked, “Karona Park winning the Akron Parks Challenge is a testament to the wonderful, diverse, and genuine community we have in Parkway Estates. Neighbors loving one another is what will change the world for the better.”
While allocations are now decided the City and the Akron Parks Collaborative aren't wasting any time, already planning to dive in with the two neighborhoods to foster a series of community engagements—ranging from public meetings to interactive events to extensive surveys—to ensure that the updated parks ultimately echo the voices and desires of those they serve. Bridget Ambrisco, executive director of the Akron Parks Collaborative, emphasized the commitment of the chosen communities, noting, “Both recipients this year are the first parks chosen in their respective ward and have applied multiple times,” as per the City of Akron, signaling a sustained and enthusiastic dedication to enriching the locale. With designs taking root and visions soon to materialize, Akron’s neighborhoods eye the horizon where public spaces are not just amenities but catalysts for connection and vitality.
